By Edel Golden.
It was advertised as ‘Fr. Ted Comedy Special featuring Fr. Damo and Fr. Eoin McLove’. As a Father Ted fanatic I could not wait. Joe Rooney (of Fr. Damo and Timmy from Killinaskully fame) had been touring sporadically around Ireland with the show. This installment of Father Ted priests and other guests was taking place in Belmullet Co. Mayo to a packed crowd ranging from the very young to the very old. The crowd itself was a testament to the all-encompassing humour of the infamous television programme – it appealed to everyone.
Children in the crowd excitedly roared ‘go on, go on, go on, go on’ ala Mrs. Doyle while seasoned Father Ted fans obsessed over whether it was ‘Careful now… down with that sort of thing’ or ‘down with that sort of thing…careful now!’. A local comedian who had won a Father Ted competition back in the day, Bob Hennigan, opened the show and then we all waited for our first glimpse of Fr. Eoin McLove… except he didn’t show. Sick apparently. His replacement was another unknown up-and-coming comedian whose name escapes me. Sadly he’s performance was not as forgettable. It was plain awkward. Staring down at the young innocent eyes looking up at him, he rhymed off his various jokes about drugs, sex and rock and roll – the usual fodder of less-skilled comedians. And yes, while I usually laugh at this kind of stuff, it was just plain awkward with the amount of ‘underagers’ in the crowd. It also was not in keeping with the comic tone of Father Ted. Of course Father Ted was not a clean, politically correct show but it
managed to balance ‘drink, feck, girls’ themes with a distinctly old-fashioned Irish air of guilty Catholics. There was nothing Catholic or guilty about this comedian. It was just brash.
Still, the promise of Fr. Damo beckoned after the interval and perhaps all could be saved. Again, sadly no. Joe Rooney, while hilarious and age-appropriate, told all his own jokes and gags. Not once was Fr. Damo, Fr. Ted or any of the gang mentioned. He played the guitar, did Johnny Cash impressions and I genuinely laughed out loud at all his material but I felt cheated. The only reason I had attended this gig was to get a fix for my Father Ted habit. I wanted to see the characters again and relive the jokes. However, the only reference to the show was on the billing posters plastered around the venue. Yep, I felt cheated. I felt that Joe Rooney and crew were living of the back of the show’s name. It reeked of a cheap trick and false advertising. If this comedy tour rocks up to a venue near you, only go if you’re a Joe Rooney fan. Don’t go
expecting any Father Ted gags, and definitely leave the little ones at home!
